friends of the

water linesFALL/WINTERFALL/ WINTER 2020131

Cutthroat at a Crossroads

www.tetonwater.org 1 friends of the

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chuck Iossi, President-elect Derek Hutton, Vice-President-elect Gary Moscowitz, Treasurer Richard Berg, Secretary W. Cleve Booker Jon Fenn Geordie Gillett Kim Keeley Message from the Board David Jennings Tim Mason Mitch Prissel Viewing the aspen and cottonwood trees shift into autumn colors through my window, my thoughts run to the end of FTR’s hyperac- key partners tive summer season. We’ve accomplished much toward our goal of healthy streams, clean water, and resilient fisheries through our stream restoration, Bonneville Environmental Foundation stream flow, and educational programs. A new fish ladder installation on Department of Fish and Game Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Badger Creek and the upcoming restoration phase on Teton Creek you’ll Idaho Department of Water Resources read about in this issue are big steps toward conserving our native Yellow- M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust stone (YCT). National Fish and Wildlife Foundation When I came to Teton Valley, one of my personal objectives was to US Fish and Wildlife Service find a home water and dedicate time and resources to make improvements US Forest Service, Caribou-Targhee to it. After all, I’d traveled to many rivers during fishing vacations and National Forest paid my greetings to the local trout, and then left. Benefiting from others Game and Fish who had made these fisheries a reason for my travel to these places, it seemed only fair I retire from a working life and return the gesture as an staff “employee” of native trout. What I didn’t realize was just how needy our Amy Verbeten, Interim Executive Director local native cutthroat have become. According to research findings of the & Education Director Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the Henry’s Fork Foundation, and Anna Dwinnell, Education Program others, the Teton Watershed is one of the last bastions of pure YCT strains Coordinator Anna Lindstedt, Development Director left—in the Greater Yellowstone region or anywhere. Yellowstone Lake, Quincy Liby, Membership & Outreach once the “mother lode” of this native trout, is now under siege by non- Coordinator native Mackinaw (lake) trout, and many of the regional nursery streams Mike Lien, Restoration Director have been compromised by brook and . In our watershed, Sarah Rupp, Water Resources Director we have multiple stronghold tributaries worth protecting. As a Board of Directors, we’ve entered another transition phase with Cover Photo: Non-native Eastern brook trout, the Amy Verbeten as our Interim Executive Director. Those of you who know Yellowstone cutthroat trout’s main competitor for habitat, Amy realize she has a long history with FTR and brings knowledge and have invaded streams throughout the Greater Yellow- enthusiasm many of us only aspire to possess. We’ll continue to look for stone Ecosystem. efficiencies and opportunities to drive the organization into the future. Photographer: James Fraser Meanwhile, be assured FTR is strong, and with a dedicated, knowledge- Newsletter design: C2B Design www.c2bdesign.com able, and hard-working staff and board, we are poised to continue our Production: Powder Mountain Press valued work with partners and member/contributors. As you read the re- maining articles in this newsletter, please join me in supporting the efforts Friends of the Teton River of FTR. The trout will thank us. I thank you. 18 N. Main street, Suite 310 After all, I work for trout. PO Box 768 Driggs, ID 83422 (208) 354-3871 [email protected] www.tetonwater.org Chuck Iossi FTR Board President-elect 2 Water Lines | Fall 2012 Last Stand for Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout?

by Amy Verbeten Some of the earliest references to Yellowstone cutthroat trout (YCT) are found in the journals of Captain John Bourke, an aide to General George Crook during the Indian Wars of 1876. Following the Battle of the Rosebud, Crook’s army retreated to their supply base on the upper Tongue River. The beautiful, easy-to-catch cutthroat trout found there so boosted morale that Crook decided to spend several extra days in the fishing paradise. On June 25, 1876, while General George Armstrong Custer was making his last stand on the banks of the Little Bighorn, Bourke documented a record catch of 146 fish by Captain Anson Mills. Had Crook’s 1,300-man army found the Tongue and its tributaries devoid of Yellowstone cutthroat, perhaps they would have continued just a few miles west, and altered the outcome of the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Bourke’s diaries are interesting not just for their historical significance, but also for the evolution- While the news for YCT in many parts of ary story they tell. As Robert Behnke notes in his their range is not good, we continue to book About Trout, the Tongue River drainage is the farthest east that Yellowstone cutthroat trout have discover that the Teton Watershed is one been found. A look at the historic range of YCT (see of the greatest remaining strongholds for map next page) reveals that these fish—the only na- the species. tive trout within their range—were uniquely isolated deep within the continent, in the middle of what is now called the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Perhaps even more surprising, for animals that travel by water, is that their range spans both sides of the Continental Divide. Chromosomal analysis suggests that cutthroat became differentiated from their closest relative, the rainbow trout, approximately one million years ago, during the Pleistocene Ice age. Previously able to swim freely to the Pacific, ancestral cutthroat were isolated in the Snake and Columbia River systems by large ice dams. Between 17,000 and 34,000 years ago, lava flows poured across Idaho, forming massive fish barriers. The resulting isolation of cutthroat in the upper system led to the evolution of Onchyrynchus clarki bouvieri, the Yellowstone cutthroat trout. Meltwater associated with the most recent ice ages is believed to have allowed easy movement of these fish across Two Ocean Pass, a low divide between the Snake and Yellowstone drainages. Yellowstone cutthroat trout are uniquely adapted to the cold, isolated, high-elevation mountain streams in which they evolved. We see this expressed in their life history, as

www.tetonwater.org 3 Continued from page 3 the fish begin their spawning journeys as snowmelt begins increase, at least in part, to the extensive conservation to peak in the early summer. Spawning just after the peak work done by FTR, as well the Teton Regional Land prevents eggs from being washed away by floodwaters, and Trust and Trout Unlimited. It is FTR’s belief that the allows them to thrive beneath gravel scoured of oxygen- Teton Watershed has the potential to play a significant depleting silt. Eggs hatch in mid-summer, allowing fry born role in the long-term recovery of YCT. in small tributaries to migrate toward perennial rivers just FTR also believes that YCT can play a role in the re- before water temperatures rise and naturally intermittent covery of Teton Valley’s economy. As General Crook and stream reaches become dry in September or October. his men discovered, YCT offer higher catch rates and fish This high degree of evolutionary specificity has be- densities per mile than most non-natives. They also offer come a liability for YCT in the fast-changing world a high quality fishing experience, where anglers can catch of the past 200 years. Evolving in isolation from most colorful native fish on a dry fly. Increasingly, destination other species has made it difficult to compete with the anglers are seeking opportunities to fish specifically for lake, rainbow, and brook trout that have been intro- YCT in their native environment. On the opposite side of duced to the cutthroat’s habitat, especially as dams and the coin, a continued decline of YCT could have unpre- increasingly dry winters have reduced the flood peaks dictable and potentially undesirable effects. In portions that might otherwise scour out the eggs of some of these of the Pacific Northwest, when salmon and steelhead earlier-spawning non-natives. YCT also easily hybrid- were listed as Endangered Species, irrigation water was ize with their close relative the rainbow trout, reducing curtailed for multiple years, with disastrous results for genetic purity. YCT spawning has become a futile en- agricultural producers. Ironically, an Endangered Species deavor in those streams that dry up far earlier than ever designation can also slow the progress of watershed res- before, due to diversion of water. toration work, when project permitting becomes mired In 2006, YCT were petitioned for listing as a Fed- in regulatory review. It is for these reasons that FTR is eral Endangered Species due to their rapidly declining working pro-actively to provide win-win solutions that numbers, but the US Fish and Wildlife Service ruled that benefit farmers, anglers, and fish, with the ultimate goal their population at that time did not warrant a listing. of helping to prevent an ESA listing. However, as YCT expert Bob Gresswell notes in a 2009 In the waters of the Teton River and its tributaries, update on the status of the species, there has been little YCT may be poised to make their last stand. However, progress in countering the threats described above, and FTR, together with IDFG, local agricultural produc- YCT numbers continue to decline. Perhaps most notable ers, developers, city and county officials, fishing guides has been the downward spiral of the fish’s population in and clients, federal and state agencies, and conservation Yellowstone Lake, where lake trout (Mackinaw) have group partners are working to develop a strong, com- virtually decimated the YCT spawning runs that once munity-generated plan for protection and recovery of served as a critical food source for grizzly bears and oth- our unique native fish. We believe that the story will end Title er iconic Yellowstone wildlife. If this species continues to much differently for YCT, here on the Teton River, than decline, it will mark the end of the last completely intact it did for Custer on the Little Bighorn. ecosystem in the lower 48 states. It is widely accepted that core populations of genetically pure YCT now oc- YCT Distribution cupy less than 28 percent of their historic range. Many of those familiar with the species believe that, unless these trends can be halted very soon, a successful Endangered Species listing may be imminent. While the news for YCT in many parts of their range is not good, we continue to discover that the Teton Wa- tershed is one of the greatest remaining strongholds for the species. Bitch Creek, in particular, has a remarkably robust population of YCT with very few rainbows and hybrids present. Even Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) of- ficers familiar with the area have been impressed by the number of YCT caught per mile during extensive surveys this past summer. Trout surveys and interrogation sites have revealed that YCT seem to be spawning very suc- cessfully in the reaches of tributary streams that do not go dry, especially Bitch and Canyon Creeks, and lower Teton Creek. IDFG surveys on the main stem Teton Riv- er indicate that, following a precipitous decline in YCT numbers during the late 1990s and early 2000s, the spe- cies numbers are rising again in that section. IDFG Re- Current (orange) and historic (brown) distribution of Yellowstone gional Fisheries Manager Dan Garren has credited this cutthroat trout. From Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

4 Water Lines | Fall 2012 Notes from the Field 2012 Fisheries Research by James Fraser

ABOVE: Fisheries Technician James Fraser installed the Bitch Creek interroga- tion site. RIGHT: Volunteers joined James to electrofish Canyon Creek.

Overview of This Summer’s Research order to better understand trends in YCT populations. All the while, we have filled our spare time checking fish Now in my third field season at FTR, I can honestly traps on Teton and Trail Creeks, saving stranded fish say that our fisheries work in 2012 has kept me busier in dried-up canals, monitoring out-migration of juvenile and covering a wider range of research work than ever trout in Teton Creek, and maintaining equipment that before. Starting in April, I spent every day walking the records stream temperature and fish movement through- numerous spring creek tributaries to Teton River, looking out the valley. for rainbow trout spawning areas. When the Yellowstone cutthroat trout (YCT) began their spawning run in May, I was kept busy recording spawning locations of those Why the Teton Watershed is Important to YCT fish. FTR and Idaho Fish & Game (IDFG) now have over In the course of conversation and reading fishing mag- 2,000 YCT and rainbow trout tagged with Passive Inte- azines, I often hear the refrain that brown, rainbow, and grative Transponders (PIT) in the upper Teton watershed; brook trout ‘deserve a place in our rivers.’ They certainly throughout the spring our PIT Tag interrogation site an- do, and I enjoy fishing for them as much as anyone else. tennas recorded the timing and movement of these fish Brown trout can have the Madison, rainbows own the into Teton River tributaries for spawning. Henry’s Fork, and brook trout are now considered an in- July through October is the height of the field season vasive species throughout the West. But what about our here at FTR; a period into which we have jammed an ex- native cutthroat trout? traordinary amount of “boots on the ground” fisheries Our research findings continue to demonstrate that the research in 2012. In partnership with IDFG, we conduct- Teton watershed is not just a place for Yellowstone cut- ed the first-ever population estimate for YCT in lower throat trout, but the place for YCT. Unlike brown, rainbow, Bitch Creek, and are currently working on one for the and brook trout, cutthroat trout are not found throughout Teton River canyon (the incredibly high density of YCT the world outside their historic distributions. The current in these drainages actually makes it difficult to come up range of cutthroat trout continues to shrink, but here in with an overall estimate!). We also performed a compre- Teton Valley we are fortunate to have an unusually robust hensive electro-fishing survey on Canyon Creek, an im- population of YCT still swimming in our rivers. We will portant spawning stream in the Big Hole Mountains, in work hard to ensure they continue to do so.

www.tetonwater.org 5 A Dam on the Teton River: What is at Stake?

by Sarah Rupp

“Time to get on the river; it at how to shore up and secure Idaho’s water supply. This is particularly important given that Idaho’s economy is is too hot to do anything else!” heavily dependent on agriculture. There are more than was a common (and accurate) phrase ut- 24,700 farms and ranches in Idaho, covering more than tered by many this summer in Teton Val- 11 million acres. And the agricultural products that are ley. According to data released by NOAA’s produced on that acreage, both commodities and pro- National Climatic Data Center, the sum- cessed food, account for approximately 25 percent of mer of 2012 will go down as the third- Idaho’s exports. The bottom line is that agriculture helps warmest summer on record for the con- feed the state, and water is the lynchpin that enables agri- tiguous United States. In fact, July was the cultural operations to continue. hottest month on record for the U.S. since Since the mid-1900s, the tried and true method for the government began tracking that data securing water for the growing West has involved dams. back in 1895. Large-scale dam construction occurred in the United States during the post-World War II years and reached its Dams significantly and irreparably im- peak in the 1960s. There are now more than 5,500 dams in the United States, with Idaho alone regulating nearly pact river systems. They prevent the nat- 600 of them. ural movement of sediment, restrict the Having been used as a tool to provide water for a myr- iad of interests over the past 100 years, it is no surprise distribution of nutrients downstream, that dams are what Idaho’s water policymakers are fo- increase river temperatures, prevent fish cused on as a way to secure water for Idaho’s future. Cur- rently, the State is conducting three separate dam studies. passage, and alter the timing and quan- Of particular interest to many in southeast Idaho is the tity of water in the river system. The end Henrys Fork Basin Study, a study funded by the State of Idaho and the Bureau of Reclamation. In general terms, game is this: dams do not benefit fish the study seeks to identify various methods for addressing and wildlife. Idaho’s water demand—examining everything from auto- mating irrigation canal headgates to recharging ground- water aquifers. More precisely, the study has focused While the unusually warm, long sum- largely, and in some people’s minds almost exclusively, on mer was enjoyed by many, elevated tem- the construction of dams. peratures and reduced precipitation levels The Teton River and its tributaries are of particular manifested as drought across much of the interest when it comes to the construction of a new dam. United States. More than half of all U.S. This is due to its location in the headwaters and because counties—1,584 in 32 states—were des- it is one of the last unharnessed river systems in the state, ignated primary disaster areas during the and, by consequence, is ripe for restriction. The Bureau 2012 growing season, the vast majority of of Reclamation and the State of Idaho have identified them mired in a drought considered the four potential dam projects in the Teton River watershed worst in decades. From Nevada to Kansas and will spend the winter examining them in greater de- to Texas, agricultural producers struggled tail. Detailed information concerning the construction of to provide water for livestock and crops. dams on Badger Creek, Spring Creek (tributary of Canyon And even farther to the east, all the way Creek), Moody Creek, and the Teton River is expected to to Maine, domestic wells ran dry, leaving be released in the spring of 2013. In addition, the Bureau people without water in their homes. is studying a large storage reservoir termed “Lane Lake,” It is within this context that Idaho’s wa- which would be located north of the Teton River canyon ter policymakers are taking a closer look in what is commonly referred to as Hog Hollow.

6 Water Lines | Fall 2012 ABOVE: The site of the failed Teton Dam

With the State of Idaho continuing to demand water, the reality of constructing any (or all!) of these projects is sobering. Dams significantly and irreparably impact Proposed water storage options for the Teton Basin river systems. They prevent the natural movement of sediment, restrict the distri- bution of nutrients downstream, increase river temperatures, prevent fish passage, and alter the timing and quantity of water in the river system. The end game is this: dams do not benefit fish and wildlife. In many cases, dams are the catalysts of destruction of fish populations. In the Columbia River Basin, hydropower dams severely diminished salmon and steelhead runs. Glen Canyon Dam, in northern Ari- zona, resulted in the bonytail chub, hump- back chub, razorback sucker, and Colo- rado pikeminnow populations being listed under the Endangered Species Act. In the case of the Teton Basin, the construction of a dam would likely impart upon Yellow- stone cutthroat trout a similar fate. There is no question, the choices ahead will be challenging. This generation is faced with hard choices—between free-flowing rivers and a concrete dam, picturesque canyons and hydropower, preserving wild places and seeking to insulate ourselves from the effects of drought. It is a choice between earmarking our water resources If you would like more information about the Henrys Fork entirely for human demand, and leaving a little for native fish and wildlife popula- Basin Study, please contact Friends of the Teton River’s Water tions. What is decided will influence, forev- Resource Director, Sarah Rupp, at (208) 354-3871 ext. 3. er, the future of the Teton River watershed and all who depend upon it.

www.tetonwater.org 7 “Sign, sign, everywhere a sign...”

ABOVE: New Teton River signs greet users. The empty space will be filled with a river map next year. Please note that IDFG will be taking down signs in the fall to store them during hunting season. BELOW: IDFG personnel (far right) coordinated the sign installation with Boy Scout Troop #78.

... or so goes the 1971 song lyric. But until recently, to break the law, just that they were uninformed, and I the public access points on the Teton River didn’t have wanted to do what I could to help educate people about much in the way of user information. With more people the Teton River.” on the river than ever before—anglers, floaters, boaters, Eighteen Boy Scouts spent two days digging holes, residents, and tourists—FTR sought support to improve mixing concrete, cementing the sign posts in place, paint- the information available to the public at the seven public ing the kiosks, and bolting the signs in place. The scouts access locations in the upper watershed. had generous help from local contractor Roger Kaufman, With financial support from the Western Native Trout who welded the new kiosk posts. The signs posted this Initiative, donated materials and machines from the Ida- year include trout identification information and fishing ho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG), and a lot of regulations, provided in both English and in Spanish. Sign elbow-grease from local Boy Scout Troop #78, the new kiosks will be completed at the remaining access points at river signs and kiosks debuted this summer at public ac- Rainey, Packsaddle, and Harrop’s Bridge in 2013. FTR cess points on Fox Creek (east and west) and at the South will additionally post a user map of the Teton River indi- Bates and Bates Bridge boat ramps. cating public access locations and river information, and Eagle Scout candidate Nathan Burr and his father, Dan an “Every Cutthroat Counts—No Cutthroat Harvest” Burr, helped coordinate with IDFG to install improved ki- sign at all seven sites. osks for the new signage. “This project was important FTR’s overall goal for the project is to educate an- to me because I fly fish on the Teton River a lot,” Nate glers and others about the trout species that inhabit the said, “and a couple of years ago I noticed some fisher- river and the importance of Yellowstone cutthroat trout man who had harvested [Yellowstone] cutthroat trout. conservation in our watershed, and to provide general in- This made me realize that it wasn’t that people wanted formation that will improve user knowledge and appre- ciation of the resource. “Through better education and information, we’ll cultivate better river stewards,” added Dan Burr. “And now it can start the moment you arrive at the put in.”

Boy Scout Conservation Pledge “I will treat the outdoors as a heritage. I will take care of it for myself and others. I will learn how to practice good conservation of soil, waters, forests, minerals, grasslands, wildlife, and energy. I will urge others to do the same.”

8 Water Lines | Fall 2012 More than 120 Fourth Graders Education Updates This fall, every fourth grader in Teton County School District Study Teton Valley’s Streams #401 participated in FTR’s Stream Study program. Long-time fourth-grade teacher Barbara Agnew, who retired last spring, participated in the program since helping to design it in 2002, and was instrumental in establishing it as a standard part of the fourth-grade curriculum. According to Rendezvous Upper Ele- mentary School Principal Megan Bybee, the program is a natural fit for the fourth-grade curriculum. “Opportunities like Stream Team help students to feel more engaged,” she said. “When they’re out measuring stream width, making a hypothesis about a creek’s health, or graphing and comparing macro-invertebrate populations, they realize there’s a real-life application for the math and science skills they’re learning in the classroom.” Thanks to funding from individual members, the Donald C. Brace Foundation, and the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, FTR is able to offer its K-12 programs at no cost to the schools. Thanks also to the Teton Regional Land Trust, for allowing stu- dents to conduct research on the Six Springs Ranch property.

FTR Helps Well Owners Test Water Safety Thanks to a grant from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, FTR has been helping private well own- ers learn what they can do to protect and monitor the safety of their drinking water. The educational endeavor kicked off last spring with a Well Water Testing Day, in which more than 180 Teton Valley residents brought in a water sample for nitrate testing. Teton High School’s environmental science class, led by teacher Dan Abraham, helped to perform the tests and distribute information about septic system maintenance and protecting wells from pollutants. The ideal concentration for nitrate in drinking water is zero, but anything below 10 mg/L meets the EPA’s stan- dards for safety. While all samples tested at the event were considered safe, many throughout the valley were near the 5 mg/L mark. FTR is working closely with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality to determine possible trends, and sources for the higher readings. For those who missed the April event, feel free to call FTR to arrange for an individual testing at any time.

Make your lucky *Better photos guaranteed! (actual trout size may vary) fishing hat one of ours.* Check out FTR’s new logo merchandise! • Hats available in new colors & styles (now in camo!) • Men’s and Women’s cut t-shirts • Jytte Ski Hats will be available soon! FTR logo merchandise makes a great gift.

View merchandise online: www.tetonwater.org To place your order, e-mail: [email protected] Fishing guide Josh Gallivan shows off his catch and his lucky hat.

www.tetonwater.org 9 $1 Million FEMA Grant to Complete Teton Creek Restoration This spring, thanks to a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FTR will begin work on the final phase of a $2.85 million restoration project that has been years in the making. Teton Creek Timeline

1980: First documented dredging of Teton Creek, by a developer interested in replacing the braided floodplain with houses and condos. Various entities continue chan- nelization through 2004 (even the US Forest Service mined the creek for gravel in 1983), despite warnings from the US Army Corps of Engineers, who began issuing increasingly adamant cease and desist orders in the early 1990s.

Summer of 2006: Landowners along Teton Creek and the south side of Driggs receive a warning letter from the Environmental Protection Agency, informing them that, due to illegal channelization work, the creek has become highly unstable and presents a significant flooding risk. FTR convenes the Teton Creek Stakeholders Group, and begins assessment and fundraising work.

2007-2009 Based on Stakeholder-driven design criteria and a holistic approach to restoring Teton Creek, FTR works with landowners, irrigators, state and federal agencies, engineering firms that specialize in stream restoration, the City of Driggs, and Teton County to develop, review, and finalize a restoration design plan. Teton Creek quickly becomes FTR’s #1 restoration prior- ity, due to its potential for causing severe flood damage, the degree of habitat degradation and property loss, and its importance for Yellowstone cutthroat trout.

2009-2010 Phases I and II of construction are completed, resulting in stabilization of the most critical eroding banks and replacement of the undersized Cemetery Road Bridge.

2011-2012 FTR works with Teton County to apply for and secure a $1 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FTR is currently performing final survey work, and is working with Teton County to interview and hire the contractors who will complete Final Phase restoration work.

Fall of 2013: Final Phase Construction will be completed, marking the culmination of the seven-year, $2.85 million restoration project. FTR will continue to work with individual FTR members, Teton Creek-area homeowners associations, the Department of Environmental Quality, and Teton County to raise the $300,000 match required by the FEMA grant.

If you have questions about the Teton Creek Restoration Project, or would like to make a tax-deductible contribution or review project plans, please contact FTR Restoration Director Mike Lien. Many thanks to all who have contributed to this important project.

10 Water Lines | Fall 2012 The Gift of a Lifetime Sandy and Mary Mason have a home on the banks of the Teton River—and they enjoy their view, the wildlife they encounter, and the trout they watch rising on the water’s surface. Like many of you, the Masons actively support Friends of the Teton River as members, attending events (you may have even seen Sandy make an appear- ance as an auctioneer at the River Party!)—and donating their time and energy to causes that pos- itively impact our water resources and our com- munity. But their stewardship of this resource goes beyond even the contributions they will make to it in their lifetime. This summer, Sandy and Mary completed some estate planning and decided to leave a part of their legacy to FTR in their will. “Our hope is that our love for the Teton River and its ecosystem will continue on, with our be- quest to FTR,” Mary said.

Our sincerest thanks to the Masons for their philanthropic spirit and planned gift, which has been designated for future stream restoration work. If you are interested in making a similar bequest, please contact Development Director Anna Lindstedt. It is truly the gift of a lifetime!

Board Challenge Membership: Melia & Mike PROJECT SUPPORT: Campaign—Fisheries Caddis Fly ($25-$50) Tourangeau Fisheries Research Research Program Thomas Clark Lizz & Gerry Verbeten Dr. John Short Richard Berg Rich & Tony Eidem Barbara Wolahan 1% for the Tetons Katharine Butler, in Richard & Lynne Bonneville honor of Karen LeBolt Blue-winged Olive Environmental Scheid Ron Lynch ($250-$500) Foundation Micki Campbell Bob & Deborah Lornae & Billy Dwyer Bobbi St Clair & Malheiro John Fedders Education Doug Colonel Chet & Jean Otto Guenther M.J. Murdock Chuck Iossi & McDonough Jeri Thomson & Charitable Trust Thank you Tina Culman Katie & David David James Donald C. Brace Joe & Adonia Curry Middleton Foundation Judy & Thomas Larry & Corinne Orme Grey Drake Fauntleroy Elizabeth Alva Rosa ($500-$1000) Stream Flow Donors! Peter Fenger Jo Ann Rose Marilyn Couch & Restoration Jonathan & Neal & Mary David Axelrod Maki Foundation Annie Fenn Smithhammer Forrest & Sue Hunter Kenney Brothers Tim Frazier Mark Vansummern Jennifer Price, in Foundation Geordie & Kim Gillett Tom & Wynne Ann memory of Abby Jim & Cheryl Mark & Nell Hanson Walsh Arnold Wellman Reinertsen Thanks also to the Herb & Maureen Lauren Wendt Heimerl Betsy White Yellowstone Teton Creek Flood David & Kim Jennings Cutthroat Trout Control District 203 individuals who Kim Keeley Pale Morning Dunn ($1,000-$2,500) Dark Star Properties Sue & Tim Mason ($100-$250) Justin & Dargie Creekside Meadows Richard & Carolyn Travis & Megan Bowersock HOA Max Allen Scott Christensen supported us in the James Mowery, in J. Gentry & Rachel Barb & David Farmer Badger Creek honor of Donn Barden Jonathan & Annie Fenn Fish Ladder Mowery Gary & Toni Baugher Nancy Hamill Winter Eric Soyland 2012 Tin Cup Challenge. Jeanie & Fred Staehr Lynne & Art Becker Pro Guide Direct Andy Steele Bobbi St Clair & Canyon Creek Fish Bob & Laurie Swan/ Doug Colonel Legacy Circle ($5,000) Ladder/Restoration CamperVan North Jane & Doug Ditmars Yvon Chouinard Jackson Hole One Fly America Jeff & Kirstin George Geiges Foundation Marie & Bob Tyler Engelman David & Kim Jennings Orvis Virginia & Bill Wesley Douglas Hancey Patagonia Richard Nichols Western Native Trout Katharine Shepard Initiative *Our apologies for any errors or omissions. Please contact FTR with any changes. www.tetonwater.org 11 Non-Profit friends of the Organization US Postage PAID Driggs, ID Permit #8 Friends of the Teton River 18 N. Main Street, Suite 310 PO Box 768 Driggs, ID 83422

Dream Big! Dear Friends and Members, Your contribution at year end not only helps FTR reach our financial objectives—

It also fuels our projects and programs, activities, and undertakings

Gives us the support, confidence, resolve, and resources we need

To accomplish, fulfill, carry out, and meet

Our goals, aspirations, ambitions, and vision— for clean water, healthy streams, and a thriving fishery.

As we continue to meet the challenges facing our watershed, help us “dream big” for its future with your year-end pledge of support.

Sincerely,

Development Director

Please check our website for announcements about FTR’s 2013 Calendar of Events, including the Wednesday Water-Wise series, parties, floats, and more!

FTR field crews witnessed this determined snake eating a sculpin on the Canyon Creek drainage this past summer. Photo by James Fraser www.tetonwater.org

12 Water Lines | Fall 2012